RIDGWAY – There’s a new face leading the Mighty Elker marching
band this season in Ridgway.

Judith Bungo took over the program at the beginning of the band
camp this summer.

Bungo is a graduate of Clearfield Area High School and a recent
graduate of Grove City College with a bachelor’s degree in music
and education. She decided on teaching music half-way through her
senior year.

“I just love music so much and I am so passionate about it,”
Bungo said. “I want them to realize their potential and to share my
passion and love of music.”

Bungo plays the flute and piano and the basics of the
violin.

She chose Ridgway after “applying at a lot of different places
and for a lot of different jobs.”

Bungo said she knew the right job would come along and liked the
area. Her youth and energy fits in well with the marching band and
they have all responded well to the change in directors.

“I am really excited to be here and work with the kids,
especially the marching band,” she said. “They are really a good
bunch. They are all good kids.”

Bungo is enjoying getting to work with the band parents and said
the ones she has met so far have been very positive. She said the
marching band has been invited to an exhibition at her former high
school (Clearfield) at the end of October and feels this will help
them learn by gaining more experience.

She hopes to help build up the marching and concert band
programs at the school.

“I would like to see the kids know the basic movements and basic
drills and then continue to polish them,” Bungo said. “Just work on
the little things that make one band stand out from another.”

The marching band will be performing selections from Ozzy
Osbourne and Golden Earring during their halftime shows this year.
The music was selected by the band at the end of last season.